Stan gunned down

LONDON, July 1

There is a reason why Juan Martin del Potro went under the knife over and over again. Three wrist operations since his last appearance at Wimbledon in 2013 meant Del Potro had had more appointments with surgeons and physiotherapists than on-court engagements with tennis professionals over the past 27 months.

On Friday, the gentle giant from Argentina showed why all the pain and scars — both physical and mental — were worth it as he toppled fourth seed Stan Wawrinka 3-6 6-3 7-6(2) 6-3 under a closed Centre Court roof in the second round of Wimbledon.

“It feels amazing. I beat one of the guys who is playing great tennis this season and I couldn't have expected this before today,” a trembling Del Potro said. “I was really sad for the last two years and now I am enjoying playing tennis again. My hands shaking is a great sensation for me because I'm playing tennis again and I feel alive.” 

Del Potro, world No. 165, was feeling “so alive” that by the time the match hit the mid-way point of the second set, Wawrinka did not know what had hit him.

The Swiss was probably left wishing Del Potro's surgeon had not done such a good job of fixing the stricken left wrist which he uses to belt his trademark double-handed backhand. A break for 3-1 was enough for Del Potro to bag the second set and he marked the moment with a clenched-fist salute to his supporters.

By the time the players swapped serves for four successive games at the start of the third set, Wawrinka knew he was in for a torrid afternoon against the 2009 US Open champion.

A forehand long handed the 6-foot-6 Del Potro the third set tiebreak and the Argentine proved his patched-up wrist could go blow-for-blow with Wawrinka's thundering groundstrokes in the fourth as he finished a 21-shot rally with a nerveless volley.

Wawrinka saved two break points in the sixth game, with an ace and a beautiful backhand winner, but his luck ran out two games later as an erratic backhand handed Del Potro the break.

When the Swiss whipped a backhand wide on match point, it completed a remarkable comeback from the tennis wilderness for his opponent. — Reuters

You’re an idiot, worst in world: Troicki

Serbia's Viktor Troicki launched a vintage tennis rant at Wimbledon on Thursday, blasting an umpire as an “idiot” and lambasting him for being “the worst in the world”. Fiery Troicki, the 25th seed, slumped to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 defeat to Spain's Albert Ramos Vinolas after slipping to match point down on a controversial over-rule by umpire Damiano Torella. A serve from the Spaniard had been called out but the decision was corrected making it an ace. Troicki was furious, carrying the ball back to the chair on Court 17, telling the official to “look at it”. “No white, look at it!” shouted Troicki, as he pleaded with the official to look for chalk dust. “Come on please, look at it, once, once! Look at it. You're the worst umpire in the world, you're so bad,” screamed Troicki, who received a code violation for his behaviour after smashing the ball in question out of the court. 

Highlights

Berdych advances 

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic coasted to a 6-4 6-1 6-2 win over Benjamin Becker of Germany to move into the third round.

Tsonga powers through

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France beat Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-1 6-4 6-3 to reach the third round.

Venus wins

Venus Williams beat Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina 7-5 4-6 10-8 to advance to the last 16.

Kyrgios sinks Brown 

Nick Kyrgios of Australia beat German Dustin Brown 6-7(3) 6-1 2-6 6-4 6-4 to reach the third round.

Serena survives scare

Serena Williams composed herself after a first-set loss and a burst of anger to vanquish tenacious fellow American Christina McHale 6-7(7) 6-2 6-4.